After a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday, Organised Labour demanded that President Bola Tinubu’s administration reverse the recent electricity tariff hike and eliminate the classification of customers into bands.
This was stated in a communique issued at the end of the joint NEC meeting held at the NLC’s National Headquarters. The meeting was convened to discuss the federal government’s offer of a higher national minimum wage following the successful commencement of the indefinite nationwide strike action on Monday.
The communique was jointly signed by the presidents of NLC and TUC, Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, respectively.
Organised Labour emphasized that reversing the electricity tariff hike and abolishing the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into bands are crucial to reducing the financial burden on Nigerian workers and the general populace.
The NEC, as the highest decision-making body of Organised Labour, insisted that the electricity tariff hike and discriminatory band classification must be addressed in conjunction with the wage increase.
The communique partly read: “The NEC-in-Session is deeply disappointed by the government’s silence and lack of concrete action regarding the reversal of the electricity tariff hike and the abolition of the apartheid classification of electricity consumers into Bands.
“The NEC reaffirms that these issues are critical to alleviating the financial burden on Nigerian workers and the general populace. The electricity tariff hike and discriminatory Band classification remain unacceptable and must be addressed alongside the wage increase.”
It continued, “There is a greater need to create the right ambiance for negotiations to continue unhindered. The indefinite nationwide strike action is, therefore, relaxed for one week from today to allow the Federal Government to commit to a concrete and acceptable National Minimum Wage, take definitive steps to reverse the electricity tariff hike back to N66/kWh, and abolish the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into Bands.
“The NLC and TUC National Leadership are mandated to continue to maintain open channels of communication with the Federal Government to negotiate and secure favorable outcomes for Nigerian workers and people.
“All affiliate unions and State Councils are therefore directed to relax the indefinite nationwide strike and return to their respective workplaces immediately.
“The NEC-in-Session expresses profound gratitude to Nigerian workers and the general public for their unwavering support and solidarity in this critical struggle for improved living and working conditions.
“The NLC and TUC remain committed to pursuing all necessary actions to protect the rights and welfare of all Nigerian people and workers as we urge all to await further directives while the negotiation continues.”